Efficient detoxication of hydroxylamine and nitrite through heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification by Acinetobacter johnsonii EN-J1

The co-existence of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and nitrite (NO2–-N) can aggravate the difficulty of wastewater treatment. The roles of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and nitrite (NO2–-N) in accelerating the elimination of multiple nitrogen sources by a novel isolated strain of Acinetobacter johnsonii EN-J1 were investigated in this study. The results demonstrated that strain EN-J1 could eliminate 100.00% of NH2OH (22.73 mg/L) and 90.09% of NO2–-N (55.32 mg/L), with maximum consumption rates of 1.22 and 6.75 mg/L/h, respectively. Prominently, the toxic substances NH2OH and NO2–-N could both facilitate nitrogen removal rates. Compared with the control treatment, the elimination rates of nitrate (NO3–-N) and NO2–-N were enhanced by 3.44 and 2.36 mg/L/h after supplementation with 10.00 mg/L NH2OH, and those of ammonium (NH4+-N) and NO3–-N were improved by 0.65 and 1.00 mg/L/h after the addition of 50.00 mg/L NO2–-N. Furthermore, the nitrogen balance results indicated that over 55.00% of the initial total nitrogen was transformed into gaseous nitrogen by heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification (HN-AD). Ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO), nitrate reductase (NR), and nitrite reductase (NIR), which are essential for HN-AD, were detected at levels of 0.54, 0.15, 0.14, and 0.01 U/mg protein, respectively. All findings confirmed that strain EN-J1 could efficiently execute HN-AD, detoxify NH2OH and NO2–-N, and ultimately promote nitrogen removal rates

TWIST Represses Estrogen Receptor-alpha Expression by Recruiting the NuRD Protein Complex in Breast Cancer Cells

Loss of estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression and gain of TWIST (TWIST1) expression in breast tumors correlate with increased disease recurrence and metastasis and poor disease-free survival. However, the molecular and functional regulatory relationship between TWIST and ERα are unclear. In this study, we found TWIST was associated with a chromatin region in intron 7 of the human ESR1 gene coding for ERα. This association of TWIST efficiently recruited the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) repressor complex to this region, which subsequently decreased histone H3K9 acetylation, increased histone H3K9 methylation and repressed ESR1 expression in breast cancer cells. In agreement with these molecular events, TWIST expression was inversely correlated with ERα expression in both breast cancer cell lines and human breast ductal carcinomas. Forced expression of TWIST in TWIST-negative and ERα-positive breast cancer cells such as T47D and MCF-7 cells reduced ERα expression, while knockdown of TWIST in TWIST-positive and ERα-negative breast cancer cells such as MDA-MB-435 and 4T1 cells increased ERα expression. Furthermore, inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity including the one in NuRD complex significantly increased ERα expression in MDA-MB-435 and 4T1 cells. HDAC inhibition together with TWIST knockdown did not further increase ERα expression in 4T1 and MDA-MB-435 cells. These results demonstrate that TWIST/NuRD represses ERα expression in breast cancer cells. Therefore, TWIST may serve as a potential molecular target for converting ERα-negative breast cancers to ERα-positive breast cancers, allowing these cancers to restore their sensitivity to endocrine therapy with selective ERα antagonists such as tamoxifen and raloxifene

Characterization of a Novel, Cold-Adapted, and Thermostable Laccase-Like Enzyme With High Tolerance for Organic Solvents and Salt and Potent Dye Decolorization Ability, Derived From a Marine Metagenomic Library

Synthetic dyes are widely used in many industries, but they cause serious environmental problems due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. In contrast to traditional physical and chemical treatments, biodegradation is generally considered an environmental-friendly, efficient, and inexpensive way to eliminate dye contaminants. Here, a novel laccase-like enzyme Lac1326 was cloned from a marine metagenomic library. It showed a maximum activity at 60°C, and it retained more than 40% of its maximal activity at 10°C and more than 50% at 20–70°C. Interestingly, the laccase behaved stably below 50°C, even in commonly used water-miscible organic solvents. The enzyme decolorized all tested dyes with high decolorization efficiency. This thermostable enzyme with high decolorization activity and excellent tolerance of organic solvents and salt has remarkable potential for bioremediation of dye wastewater. It is thus proposed as an industrial enzyme

Effects of Berberine on Cell Cycle, DNA, Reactive Oxygen Species, and Apoptosis in L929 Murine Fibroblast Cells

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from several traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCM), exhibits a strong antimicrobial activity in the treatment of diarrhea. However, it causes human as well as animal toxicity from heavy dosage. The present study was conducted to investigate the cytotoxicity of berberine and its possible trigger mechanisms resulting in cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, ROS (reactive oxygen species) level, mitochondrial membrane potential change, and cell apoptosis in L929 murine fibroblast (L929) cells. The cells were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of berberine for 24 h. The results showed that cell viability was significantly decreased in a subjected dose-dependent state; berberine concentrations were higher than 0.05 mg/mL. Berberine at a concentration above 0.1 mg/mL altered the morphology of L929 cells. Cells at G2/M phase were clear that the level of ROS and cell apoptosis rates increased in 0.1 mg/mL group. Each DNA damage indicator score (DIS) increased in groups where concentration of berberine was above 0.025 mg/mL. The mitochondrial membrane potential counteractive balance mechanics were significantly altered when concentrations of berberine were above 0.005 mg/mL. In all, the present study suggested that berberine at high dosage exhibited cytotoxicity on L929 which was related to resultant: cell cycle arrest; DNA damage; accumulation of intracellular ROS; reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential; and cell apoptosis

Hyaluronic acid ameliorates intervertebral disc degeneration via promoting mitophagy activation

Activation of mitophagy was considered to be a potential therapeutic strategy for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). There was evidence suggesting that hyaluronic acid (HA) can protect mitochondria from oxidative stress in chondrocytes, but its protective effects and mechanism in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) remain unclear. This study aimed to confirm the effect of HA promoting mitophagy and protecting mitochondria function in NPCs, and explore its underlying mechanism. NPCs were treated with high molecular weight HA, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and Cyclosporin A (CsA). Mitophagy, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, senescence and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation were measured. Then, NPCs were transfected with C1QBP siRNA, mitophagy and mitochondrial function were tested. The therapeutic effects of HA on IDD by promoting mitophagy were assessed in bovine intervertebral disc organ culture model. The results showed that TBHP induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, NPCs apoptosis, senescence and ECM degradation. Treated by HA, mitophagy was activated, concomitantly, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, senescence and ECM degradation were ameliorated. Mitophagy inhibition by CsA partially eliminated the protective effects of HA against oxidative stress. After transfected with C1QBP siRNA to reduce the expression of C1QBP in NPCs, the effect of HA promoting mitophagy was inhibited and the protective effect of HA against oxidative stress was weaken. Additionally, HA alleviated NPCs apoptosis and ECM degradation in bovine intervertebral disc organ culture model. These findings suggest that HA can protect mitochondrial function through activation of mitophagy in NPCs and ameliorate IDD. Furthermore, C1QBP is involved in HA promoting mitophagy and protecting NPCs from oxidative stress. Taken together, our results provide substantial evidence for the clinical applications of HA in the prevention and treatment of IDD

Decoding the spermatogonial stem cell niche under physiological and recovery conditions in adult mice and humans

The intricate interaction between spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) and testicular niche is essential for maintaining SSC homeostasis; however, this interaction remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, to characterize the underlying signaling pathways and related paracrine factors, we delineated the intercellular interactions between SSC and niche cell in both adult mice and humans under physiological conditions and dissected the niche-derived regulation of SSC maintenance under recovery conditions, thus uncovering the essential role of C-C motif chemokine ligand 24 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 in SSC maintenance. We also established the clinical relevance of specific paracrine factors in human fertility. Collectively, our work on decoding the adult SSC niche serves as a valuable reference for future studies on the aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of male infertility.</p

Energy map and effective metric in an effective-one-body theory based on the second-post-Minkowskian approximation

Effective-one-body (EOB) theory was originally proposed based on the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation and plays an important role in the analysis of gravitational wave signals. Recently, the post-Minkowskian (PM) approximation has been applied to the EOB theory. The energy map and the effective metric are the two key building blocks of the EOB theory, and in PN approximation radial action variable correspondence is employed to construct the energy map and the effective metric. In this paper, we employ the PM approximation up to the second order, and use the radial action variable correspondence and the precession angle correspondence to construct the energy map and the effective metric. We find that our results based on the radial action variable correspondence, are exactly the same with those obtained based on the precession angle correspondence. Furthermore, we compare the results obtained in this work to the previous existing ones

Reaction force of gravitational radiation in an effective-one-body theory based on the post-Minkowskian approximation

Effective-one-body (EOB) theory based on the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation presented by Buonanno and Damour plays an important role in the analysis of gravitational wave signals. Based on the post-Minkowskian (PM) approximation, Damour introduced another novel EOB theory which will lead to theoretically improved versions of the EOB conservative dynamics and might be useful in the upcoming era of high signal-to-noise-ratio gravitational-wave observations. Using the 2PM effective metric obtained by us recently, in this paper we study the radiation reaction force experienced by the particle with the help of the energy-loss-rate, which is an important step to construct the EOB theory based on the PM approximation

Self-consistent Effective-one-body theory for spinless binaries based on post-Minkowskian approximation I: Hamiltonian and decoupled equation for ψ4B\psi^B_{4}

To build a self-consistent effective-one-body (EOB) theory, in which the Hamiltonian, radiation-reaction force and waveform for the "plus" and "cross" modes of the gravitational wave should be based on the same effective background spacetime, the key step is to look for the decoupled equation for $\psi^B_{4}=\ddot{h}_{+}-i\ddot{h}_{\times}$, which seems a very difficult task because there are non-vanishing tetrad components of the tracefree Ricci tensor for such spacetime. Fortunately, based on an effective spacetime obtained in this paper by using the post-Minkowskian (PM) approximation, we find the decoupled equation for $\psi^B_{4}$ by dividing the perturbation part of the metric into the odd and even parities. With the effective metric and decoupled equation at hand, we set up a frame of self-consistent EOB model for spinless binaries.Comment: 16 page

Psychosocial impact of dental esthetics regulates motivation to seek orthodontic treatment

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial impact of dental esthetics for adults seeking orthodontic treatment. Methods The Chinese version of the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) was administered to 393 adults, aged 18 to 30\ua0years. The participants were divided into 2 groups: an intervention group (received orthodontic treatment) and a control group (rejected orthodontic treatment). Baseline malocclusion severity was assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Results The Wilcoxon signed rank test showed no statistically significant difference between the groups for the dental health component (DHC) of the IOTN (P\ua0=\ua00.134). Total and subscale PIDAQ scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group and differed significantly in each group among the 4 IOTN-DHC grades; self-confidence scores in the control group (F\ua0=\ua01.802; P\ua0>0.05) were the exception. Correlations between the PIDAQ scores and the IOTN-DHC grades were strong in each group. DHC grades, psychological impact, social impact, and aesthetic concern had significant impacts on patients accepting orthodontic treatment. Conclusions The psychosocial impact of dental esthetics played an important role in the decision-making process of adults seeking orthodontic treatment. Importantly, participants with low self-awareness of the potential psychosocial impact rejected orthodontic treatment, despite the need for severe normative treatment